Contra Costa Health Services is proud to announce the establishment of a new psychiatric emergency unit that will cater specifically to the needs of children and teenagers in Contra Costa County. This unit, situated at 25 Allen Street, is conveniently located within the same building as the Miller Wellness Center and near the Martinez Health Center.
Pacific Clinics, under contract by Contra Costa Health Services, will be responsible for operating this new psychiatric emergency unit. The staff will provide various services such as crisis intervention, mental health assessments, medication support, therapy, alcohol and drug screening, case management, and peer support. Their goal is to stabilize patients and connect them with mental health services without the need for hospitalization.
This new youth unit comes at a crucial time when pediatric psychiatric admissions have been on the rise. In 2023 alone, there were 1,072 admissions for pediatric psychiatric patients at the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. Most of these young patients were adolescents and teenagers dealing with depression and were at a high risk of suicide according to Contra Costa Health Services.
The establishment of this dedicated youth unit aims to address this issue by providing specialized care for children in psychiatric emergencies. With its focus on early intervention and connecting patients with ongoing mental health services, this new unit has the potential to save lives and improve outcomes for young people in need.
